Super PAC Obscura

Folks in Washington are starting to get wise to the Super PAC game.

Eleven Democrats on Tuesday sent a letter to FEC Chairwoman Caroline Hunter urging the commission to enact broad disclosure and disclaimer rules in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision that struck down limits on corporate and union contributions to the outside groups.

The letter comes a day after super PACs reported hauling in tens of millions of dollars in January alone, with much of that cash raised by groups that support GOP presidential candidates and conservative causes.

“While the First Amendment guarantees the right of free speech, we must be sure that the corporate structure does not obscure the speaker,” the senators wrote. “This is why we believe that the identity of individual contributors should also be disclosed when they make substantial donations to organizations financing independent expenditures.”

Signatories included Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Al Franken (Minn.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Tom Udall (N.M.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Read the full story: Democratic senators want super PAC crackdown (Politico) or follow the money below.